On Astral Tides: From Humble Freelancer To Astral Emperor

“…our programming schedule is starting to fill out a little, though I trust you will bear with us in these trying times. The creation of WTV was rather sudden, and a lot of personnel were… let go… for various reasons.” Arisu-san was saying, again resplendent in her red and white gown, seemingly more fitting for a red-carpet premiere, rather than being at a shrine, no matter how eminent, atop a mountain.

“And of course, I cannot simply continue to present every programme. My time is precious.” With her coldly beautiful black eyes, flawless pale skin and cascade of long, midnight black hair, in a way Arisu-san reminded me of a Kami. I then flinched, as the woman holding my hand, Tsukiko, squeezed me uncomfortably. I turned my head a little, admiring her profile, which somehow was even more beautiful, her features perfectly symmetrical and without blemish, although it was a different sort of beauty, certainly. Arisu-san was a woman who demanded attention and respect, whereas Tsukiko was more ephemeral, almost holy…

Yet she’s real. She’s not going anywhere. Not ever again…

“I am also interested, but… your thoughts should be on me tonight, not other women…” Tsukiko whispered, and I was amused at the faint jealousy in her tone, an emotion I never thought I’d see her display. That’s the beauty of love… you get to see the sides of women nobody ever else will…

With a wry smile, I nodded, but we continued to listen to Arisu-san and her co-host, as they finished up the final broadcast of this day of the Pilgrimage.

“And while of course, as both a presenter and a stakeholder in WTV, the money is welcome, I have no need to work myself to the bone seeking remuneration…”

“That’s right.” Arisu-san’s co-host for the broadcast, Yu-mi, who was a surprising pick, smiled prettily, radiating confidence. She wore her Adamant uniform, tight black skirt and military-style jacket, over a crisp white shirt, though in deference to her hosting duties she wasn’t wearing the military cap. “Fortunately, our leader has the resources to keep us happy.” She winked one brown eye at the cameras. “But he does like to make us work!” Yu-mi’s Japanese had improved significantly recently, due to her diligent efforts and boosted stats from Chirurgery, and while her accent was a bit off, and her word choice was simple, she was perfectly understandable.

“Quite.” Arisu-san agreed. “Though I am not averse to effort. We cannot gain what we wish if we do not put in the work. And speaking of… we are currently filming a number of documentaries, with a group of eminent scholars in many fields, most notably Japanese mythology and culture. Expect a new series, ‘The true Yōkai of Japan’, to be airing on WTV soon. In addition, to answer the pleas of our dear viewers…” The way Arisu-san said that was rather cold, but I expected a certain sort of man would be extremely overjoyed to have Arisu-san talk down to them and gaze on them with disdain.

“…we are currently attempting to secure footage from the spiritual world of the Boundary and edit it into some sort of comprehensible programming. So please do keep checking the schedule for WTV, as it is likely to be updated on short notice.” She then paused and took a breath, before finishing. “In any case, I have been your host, Arisugawa Arisu…”

“And I’ve been her co-host, Park Yu-mi. I apologise for my accent, I’m still learning. It has been an… honour… yes, an honour to assist Arisu-sama. And I think you might see more of me in the future…”

Arisu-san snorted at that. “If you have your way, they most certainly will. Now… there will be a fireworks display tonight atop Mount Gassan, to celebrate… a milestone for Tsukuyomi. Oh, do expect programming on the Gods and Kami, both famous and rather more modest, and perhaps the significance of this event will be known soon…”

Tsukiko let out a quiet laugh at that, and I squeezed her hand in return.

“Regardless, it seems rather a shame to not broadcast such a display to the public, so the cameras will be left rolling. Please enjoy the spectacle. No expense has been spared.” Arisu-san continued, and Yu-mi chimed in.

“Yes, I’m told that… experts?” Yu-mi groped for a word she didn’t know.

“Hanabi-shi. Fireworks masters.” Arisu-san supplied, and Yu-mi grinned bashfully.

“Hanabi-shi… yes, I learn something new every day. Anyway… they have been called to make this a wonderful display so… don’t miss it!”

“It seems a little… much.” Tsukiko was oddly embarrassed as we stepped away, the broadcast coming to a conclusion. After this, Arisu-san would be ferrying everyone back to Tokyo in her Room, barring the staff that would be travelling overnight to the next destination, carrying one of Arisu-san’s resonant tokens, allowing her to return everyone in the morning. Fortunately, Arisu-san’s strength and range had increased, and while she couldn’t easily cover Japan all in one leap, we were still at the point we could return to our base. And I’m told by Shiro they really want to try something out tonight. It has to do with Magatama and Asha… so I’m guessing it’s about her Tree…

Speaking of Magatama, Tsurugi had been peeled off me, Yukiko taking her away. She’d been reluctant to leave me, as she was terribly clingy, but she did listen to Yukiko, perhaps because of her Imperial lineage, and when it was explained to her Tsukiko and I needed some private time tonight, she didn’t quite understand, but she acquiesced.

“I am delighted that you are putting on this display to honour Tsukuyomi, but it also… feels rather shaming. Drawing attention to it…” Her face under the floodlights and glowing paper lanterns that adorned the shrine was rather red. That blush only intensified as she laid her eyes upon the small hut that had been set up for our night together. Her breath was coming faster, and her hand in mine tightened, and so I couldn’t help but tease her. Gently kissing her cheek, an easy act, as Tsukiko was tall for a woman, so I didn’t even have to bend, I was amused as she blinked at me in surprise.

“What was that for?”

“It’s because you just looked so adorable. You’re usually so calm and collected. Stubborn even, one might say. But… seeing you embarrassed and … like a woman… each and every time it happens it somehow surprises me.”

“Oh, it does, does it?” Tsukiko kissed me then, boldly on the lips. She didn’t use her tongue, but despite that, it was still sensual and passionate, her breath hot. When she pulled back, lips damp, her smile was mysterious, almost challenging. “And you remember each and every time of this stubborn woman, do you?”

“Yes.” I laughed, enjoying her banter. “I do. From the time you kissed me in death, to… that time in the hot springs you… uh, pleasured me with your mouth…” Now her face was as scarlet as her eyes, but she didn’t look away. “…and the time you promised me that at Gassan shrine, you’d never let me ask about your love ever again. And…” I waved my free arm, encompassing the shrine. “…here we are.”

“Bully.” she mock-pouted, though her ruby eyes sparkled with a mixture of affection, anticipation, arousal and nerves. “But… you are not wrong. I feel… different, tonight. More… alive? Yes. Alive.” She suddenly chuckled, a rich, girlish sound, belying her age. “I spent time earlier with your parents and Yukiko. My parents too, of course, but…”

I winced at that. “I hope mom didn’t tire you out too much. She was always boisterous, but since she’s had Chirurgery, and all this started… she’s almost uncontrollable.”

“Oh, rest assured, she is nothing but kind to me.” Tsukiko promised. “Intense, most certainly. But kind. And she helped me resolve an issue with my own parents. They… reacted as I believe ordinary parents should. It surprised me, but it also pleased me. For that means they see me as not just the Diviner, but as Tsukiko too.” She suddenly leaned her head against my shoulder as we walked, her long, midnight-black hair cascading to the ground, though due to the way it was pinned, it had a couple of inches of clearance, so as not to get dirty. “They worry I am making a mistake. That my first taste of love should be with someone who can dedicate as much of themselves to me as I can to them.”

Well yeah, of course they do. Despite everything, they love you, in their own clumsy way. Holding in a grimace, I nodded. “I get that. And what do you think?”

“I think the heart wants what the heart wants. Besides… I need not Tsukuyomi’s wisdom and guidance to know you will always treasure me. And what is it Shaeula says? Even a fraction of your love will outshine all others, as the moon does outshine the stars. A share of the moon offers more brilliance than ownership of a star. She is quite poetic, perhaps because she is Fae? And… we share the love of the moon.”

“I’m glad…” I whispered. “It’s a worry to me. But… I want to see you happy. It’s Definite you will be. I swear it. But… the more I learn, the further I go… the more I realise none of us can have an ordinary life. But then, you didn’t before, did you? You’ll always be the Diviner if you want to be, but… I’d like you to be Tsukiko too. And… like the moon… always stay in my orbit.” I pulled her close, arm around her, and she nodded, and a faint glimmer of a single tear trailing down her cheek caught the light, shining like a full moon for a moment.

“I am going nowhere. I am resolved. Resolved to seek happiness. Because… I deserve it. We deserve it.” She paused then. “Your mother wishes me to look after you, pamper you, as an older woman. What say you?”

“Old? Hardly. You’ve the soul of a maiden.” I promised her. “If anything, you seem about the same age as Shiro, perhaps even less worldly-wise. Sorry if that sounds insulting…”

“No. I agree. I may be… older than I appear, but my experience matches, or perhaps is even inferior to my apparent age. In matters of the heart, certainly. Though in terms of wisdom… I shall still be a guide, divine our futures.” We approached Gassan shrine. All the other Pilgrims had vacated, offering us our privacy. “…so, what do you seek from me? I can certainly be a motherly figure for you if you so desire.”

“Nope.” I gently disagreed. “Just… be Tsukiko. I think mom has got her own ideas of what I need, but honestly… I couldn’t be happier looking after everyone. I always did feel the need. I looked out for my sister and Eri all these years, and… I feel at peace when I’m doing so. But… now Eri, Shaeula, all of you… you look after me in turn. When it’s hard to go on, when I feel the pressure… you are all there to hold my hands, push my back, soothe my heart…”

“And offer our bodies, yes…” Tsukiko’s lewd words surprised me, and her smile was now an oddly mischievous one, the type I saw on the others often, but didn’t expect on her. Seeing that, she raised one eyebrow quizzically. “Why be surprised? Just as you enjoy the pleasures of the flesh, so to do we. I admit to my inexperience, other than the small…” her face was red again. “…deeds I have done with you. But everyone else is enthusiastic and eager. But me… I see it as more of a connection of our hearts. Two bodies, two hearts, overlapping.”

“You’re wise.” I laughed. We then halted outside the shrine. “That’s exactly what it is. Sex is fun, yes, but it’s fun because it’s a way to connect and share with those we love. So, are you ready to tell Tsukuyomi you’re no longer able to give him your heart, only your dedication?” My words sounded mean, but Tsukiko knew they were merely a joke.

“I would say the Gods do not need the love of mortals, only respect and worship… though it seems I would be wrong, as Divine Taṇhā has certainly craved your warmth.”

“I think she’s a special case… or is she? Honestly, I don’t know. She’s always said that Gods are just the same as us, just… larger-than-life. And from what I’ve seen of the Valkyries and the Norns… maybe so. If that’s the case, then…” I found myself glowering at the shrine. “…yes, Tsukuyomi can forget it! You can still respect and worship him, but… your love is for me now!” I was mostly joking, but Tsukiko saw through me, and her arm was around me now, giving me the delightful sensation of her large chest pressing into my body, the thin cloth of my shirt not masking the touch.

“Hearing your jealousy does make me feel loved.” Tsukiko admitted. “As for Tsukuyomi… I wish to declare under his sight I am yours. But…” She glanced back at the hut set up for our night of fun. “…it is why we will not consummate our union within the shrine itself. And why we are shielded from the moon above. I have no wish for him to be watching that…”

“I would hope not. I’m quite the possessive man…” I insisted jovially, and she agreed with a faint giggle, making her seem younger again.

“Yes, you are. Both Yukiko and your mother felt that if Tsukuyomi looked where he should not, you would be sure to punish him. The thought of you punishing a God seemed amusing, yet… somehow it does not seem so far-fetched. Even if not now, perhaps in the future.” She paused as we waited on the threshold, before seeming to make up her mind. “…I do not hate it though. No, in fact, it makes me feel warm inside. I still feel a little guilt towards Yukiko, but…”

“…but she gets it. If anything, I’m surprised too. Eleanor… bizarrely enough, I understand her.” I admitted. “She’s just awkward and rigid, but after our experiences together, life-and-death battles, and the aid I provided… well, the opposite of love isn’t hate, it’s indifference. Strong emotions can change, it’s lack of emotion that leads to people having no interest in each other. And… while I was angry she was so rude to the others at first, I soon realised she was worried about them, in her own clumsy way. I don’t hate that, not at all. Yukiko, though… she felt a lot like Aimi-chan or Hina-chan, you know? Like she could have been a friend I made at uni.”

“It makes sense.” Tsukiko agreed. “She is still a student, though her need to graduate has rather been curtailed by the awakening of Amaterasu’s blessing.”

“Anyway, I liked her, certainly, and… I felt she was too hard on herself. I understand that.” If only because I used to be too hard on myself. I never felt I could make those I cared for happy. I was wrong. As is Yukiko. She’s strong. I understand why she was scared and hopeless at first. After all, Tsukiko foretold her death. But… that will never happen now.

“No, it will not.” Tsukiko seemed to read my thoughts. “And I know what you are thinking now. You simply… are an open book to us. Which relieves me. I am not well-rounded when it comes to socialising. I spent much more time talking to Tsukuyomi, who seldom answered, than I ever did to other people. In fact, since Conclave, I believe I have talked more to others than in the last decade of my life combined.”

“Oh, well, that’s a good thing. And I find your conversation interesting.” I promised. “Anyway, as for Yukiko… yeah, she’s a good person, and a friend… but… we guys are simple creatures. It’s oddly easy for a friend who is a cute girl paying us attention to become something more in our hearts. I’m just surprised she fell for me…”

“Cute? You think so?”

“You don’t?” I countered, and Tsukiko agreed by raising both her eyebrows.

“Anyway… sure, she’s got a complex about her looks, but… I think she’s pretty. She just… doesn’t maximise her strengths. And she’s only getting more beautiful. After all, dedication and power are sexy.”

“In that case, you are indeed very sexy…” Tsukiko chuckled, pressing against me still. “But there is no mystery to it. Yukiko always wanted someone to treat her like you do. As herself, and someone who has value. And while she believes herself plain, I have always disagreed, like you do. And you mean what you say. We have trust in you. Except…” She kissed my cheek, eyes bright. “…when you resolve to have no more women. That we know is simply lies. But regardless… my death broke her heart, yet you saved it. You help her train, you promise to stand beside her… you lift her burdens easily, but not by demeaning her… you give her, give us, the strength and support to fight our own battles. It is no wonder she now desires you. And as an added benefit, her family wished for the match. We… will support each other as your wives. And perhaps…” Her smile was now the wickedest I’d ever seen on her face. “…I shall be the one to guide her on her first night.”

“Oh?” This time I was the one kissing her, and as she was being cheeky, I slipped my tongue into her mouth, She didn’t resist, her own tongue tangling with mine, and wet slurping sounds echoed around the silent shrine, only the distant sounds of the Hanabi-shi as they ran the final checks on their ordinance breaking the stillness of the moonlight night.

When we separated, Tsukiko reflexively licked her lips, tasting my saliva. Her cheeks were flushed, and her breathing was fast. Her heaving chest pushed against me, and I could feel her nipples through the cloth of her ornate shrine maiden hakama. “I find I like kissing…” she breathed. “…or rather, kissing the one who I have chosen to love. Love… now… let us pay our respects to Tsukuyomi, and then… we can continue.”

“Fine.” I laughed. We stepped inside Gassan shrine, and there waiting for us was Etsuko-san, the mature woman who had served as the caretaker and maid of Tsukiko for many years. She looked younger and in good health after receiving Chirurgery, and she had moved to our mansion and was one of the head maids now, taking care of everyone. On seeing us, she smiled warmly.

“Tsukiko-chan…” She had changed her manner of address at Tsukiko’s urgings, no longer calling her ‘Lady Diviner’, or even Tsukiko-sama, which she had tried to switch to. Even as a maid and caretaker, Tsukiko had affection for her, so while she was quite formal with me and the others, at Tsukiko’s insistence she had finally given in.

“Your voice… it sounds rather tremulous.” Tsukiko’s smile was rather sly. “Are you perhaps coming down with a cold? If so, I believe Akio or Shaeula can cure you.”

“Oh, you…” Etsuko-san waved one hand, amused. “You know very well why I am emotional.” She took a deep breath, and glimpsed up at the thick, thatched roof and lacquered walls. The deign was cunning, so that a little moonlight could seep through the thick roof, forming a faint, ethereal beam, which illuminated the humble shrine altar at the heart of the room. “…finally, you are being rewarded for your sacrifice and endless work for the good of others, and your devotion to the Gods. Finally… you have found your heart.”

As she sniffled, Tsukiko released me, a touch regretfully, but I patted her back, urging her onwards. I then teasingly patted her ass, and she shot me a faintly reproachful glare in response, but the effect was spoiled by her faint smile.

“Later. Or rather… shortly…” she insisted. “For now… Etsuko… yes. I am overjoyed you wish me well. But it must be hard on you. To some, it might seem like I am forsaking my solemn duties for my own worldly pleasures…”

“I would never think that.” Etsuko-san shook her head in denial. “I know just how lonely you were, so lonely you never even knew it. And… and you perished following Tsukuyomi’s will.” She bowed to me then, a deep, humble bow that left her head nearly touching the floor. “Akio-sama… please, please promise me you will ensure that Tsukiko-chan never regrets this day. I know you care for her, and she you, but…”

“I know. My relations with women don’t inspire confidence. But…” I glanced at the beam of light. “Tsukiko will say her words to you, Tsukuyomi, but here are mine. You put a great burden on her shoulders. She proved strong enough and stubborn enough to bear them. Too stubborn, in fact. And she completed all your tasks with grace. I… returned what I could of your Favour to her. Because I think it’s not for me. No, she’ll always be the Diviner, but… not yours now. Because… under the moon, I swear, I’ll always keep Tsukiko safe, and always keep her close! So, I’ll consider you almost like her grandfather, an in-law I have to pay respects to, but… you have to accept now she is my responsibility! If you need our aid, by all means send her a vision, but… it’s up to us to decide what we do about it. I’ll prioritise her wishes. Anyway, listen to her prayers, then… avert your eyes.” I tossed a specially made silver coin, resembling the moon, into the offertory box, before stepping back.

“That was… quite the speech.” Tsukiko chuckled. “I did not sense much respect at all, really. But… it is understandable. You hold a grudge for my suffering. How can I hate that? See, Etsuko? Yes, I am not the only woman in his heart, but… I have a place in it nonetheless. And it is warm, in the way only love between equals can be. The love of Tsukuyomi is real, but abstract.”

Etsuko-san wiped at her tears. “Yes, yes, I see now. I… am a pious believer, but… now there are many who have the love of the Gods, and I see… that is not all that matters. You are no longer unique.”

“Hardly.” I disagreed. “Sure, there are Favours aplenty, but Tsukiko was blessed long before all this. So she’s still special. But I don’t care how she’s special to the Gods, only how she’s special to me. Anyway… Tsukuyomi must have expended quite the effort to keep Tsukiko from facing the sort of life Shiro did, and then to give her a Favour on top? No, she’s unique. And mine!”

The Boundary isn’t flawless. It can’t be. In areas, the lower Astral touches it more deeply, and spiritual beings can still come and go, if not entirely freely. And besides that… certain Connections seem to transcend space, time and any barriers… I’m still not sure how they work, but… I’ll find out one day…

“Indeed I am.” Tsukiko agreed, stepping forwards to the altar, the light of the moonbeam reflecting off her face, illuminating it, her pale, flawless skin seeming to glow. In her hand she clutched another of the specially minted silver tribute coins, ready to offer it to the God she had served so faithfully all these years. “Now then, Etsuko, please watch my words of devotion and then…”

Etsuko-san let out a fond chuckle. “I shall be waiting. For after.” The older woman seemed very motherly indeed. “You will be wanting to bathe, I do expect. The shrine family has vacated for the night, so… I shall prepare the bath for you both. I would prepare to wash your beautiful, long hair, but…”

“Yeah.” I couldn’t help but smile. “You understand me well. I’ll be the one to wash it tonight. Wash everything.”

“I think that only proper.” she agreed. “Oh, to think the night when my Tsukiko-chan finally becomes a woman has arrived… I thought if this day was ever to come, it would be her wedding day, as is proper…”

I coughed, embarrassed. “That’s a bit old-fashioned. Nowadays most couples…” I felt a little bad mentioning couples, as there were more than just the two of us in this relationship. “…who are in love just do it when the time seems right. Of course, I still am going to marry her.”

“I should think so…” Etsuko-san agreed, and the slightly red-faced Tsukiko spoke up, the embarrassing nature of our conversation troubling her.

“Akio, Etsuko. Please do be quiet. This is… hard enough as it is.” Her pouty voice was adorable, and again made her seem younger. As we fell silent, she knelt down, carefully dropping the coin into the offertory, the metal rattling as it bounced off the inlaid wood. Adopting a position of elegant prayer, her ruby eyes were fixed on the shrine altar before her, and the faint beam of moonlight. The ceiling of the shrine was clever indeed, at first glance it seemed solid, yet hundreds of nigh-invisible grooves had been carved into it, so that no matter the night, barring the new moons, a beam would be focused towards the altar.

She’s truly Divine at this moment. Illuminated by the moon, a figure of great beauty and tragedy. But… tragedy won’t claim her again. Yes, we have challenges, and even I’m fearful at what’s to come. The scene I saw in Verðandi’s Trial showed that even beings as powerful as the Valkyrie weren’t safe from death and despair, but… that’s why we need to help each other reach our true potential. I’m sure that’s the heart of my Path.

“Tsukuyomi, noble moon that watches over us all… I am your disciple, your Diviner. Matsumuro Tsukiko.” Her words were quiet yet filled with powerful conviction, and both Etsuko and I were captivated, unable to look away. “Yes. I have reclaimed my name. That vision you sent me, when I was but a foolish child, that none could see my face, nor speak my name, lest I perish… it was true, yet… also rather misleading.” Her lips quirked into a smile, increasing her beauty still further. “I did die, but… just as your father Izanagi returned from Yomi, the underworld, so too did I. I am not Izanami, fortunately. From death, I still retain my beauty, although…” She turned her head, ruby eyes meeting my grey ones. “…I do wonder, and somehow believe, even were I to have returned a horror, Akio would still have cared for me…”

I nodded. Honestly, I’m glad she’s still herself, but even was she back a desiccated skeleton or zombie, hideous to the eyes, I would still cherish her and seek her happiness. She still deserves that. Though… as a man, I admit her beautiful appearance is far easier to love…

“…though I, despite being a sheltered, naïve woman, am not so foolish as to think he would show me the same interest and devotion.” Her tone was dry, as she read my mind, and I shrugged shamefacedly. Satisfied on getting the upper hand on me, she continued to talk to Tsukuyomi.

“But death is not the end. Only a new beginning. Just as the moon cycles from new to full and back to new, so too was I reborn. If the past me was a full moon, illuminating with your wisdom, and in death I vanished, like the new moon, my voice silenced, now… I shine again. As a woman. I… am grateful, despite everything. Towards the end I resented you, at least in part. The burden was heavy, and I felt unrewarded. Selfish, I know. We do not do good, simply to be rewarded, but… it was then I realised… I still had the heart of a woman. I still felt ordinary feelings, still craved ordinary happiness…”

Powerful words. But I think that’s what makes us strong. Power without emotion, without a wish to use that power, for ourselves or others, is simply dead, dusty strength, that will amount to nothing.

“…but I felt it too late. Yet… I wished Yukiko to be safe, and for all the Princesses you showed me visions of. Two I still do not know, but… I know they shall be saved, and just as the Hungry Ghost was, they shall find their own future with us. I… look forward to meeting them. The others… Shaeula, Shiro, Yukiko, Eleanor… are all simply doing their best to survive and seek their own happiness. I find it… inevitable that they all found it with Akio. Perhaps then it is only natural that I, as the Diviner, who received your words to protect them, should do so as well.”

Listening to her speak, Etsuko-san was dabbing at her eyes, when suddenly a loud boom exploded outside, and then another, as the fireworks began. Tsukiko glanced up for a moment, before finishing her declaration.

“I remain unsure whether Akio is the one you foretold. Perhaps I wished him not to be, because while I wished to turn aside my fate, I was also in despair. But I know… if he is not, the one who you did speak of cannot compare. For… he is the one we chose. The one I chose. He returned your Favour to me, as much as he could. It is rather tattered but… I feel your presence closely again. So… Divine Tsukuyomi, thank you for everything you have done for me, given to me. Even… even the loneliness, the fear… for without that… I never could have arrived at the now. Watch over me, always, just… not tonight. For what happens this night is between only Akio and I and shall remain in our hearts so long as we endure.”

With that she stood, clasping her hands as she offered a final, silent prayer, before she turned to me, her face now radiant, clearly refreshed and reenergised. Seeing Etsuko-san weeping silently, she came over and placed a hand on her shoulder warmly. “Do not cry. This is a happy night.”

“That’s why I am crying. Oh, Tsukiko-chan… to think…”

“It’ll be fine.” I promised, guiding them both outside. Overhead, fireworks bloomed, great blossoms in purple, green, red and gold, lighting up the night over Mount Gassan. “Now then…” My gaze strayed to the hut, and I offered a cheeky smile. “Ordinarily the fireworks should be distracting, but we made sure the hut is very soundproofed.”

“So I do not have to hold back my voice?” Tsukiko replied, and Etsuko-san gasped in shock at her unexpected crudity. Seeing that, Tsukiko chuckled. “I am a woman, Etsuko. And while I may be inexperienced, I have seen those who are not. Love is both joyful and loud. Now, go rest. We shall seek you out… afterwards.”

As a massive explosion of purple and green lit the sky, the light reflecting in Tsukiko’s eyes reminding me of the skies of the Boundary, my heart was racing. You’d think I’d be used to this by now, but… no, every time with someone new is like my first time… and it fills me with both anticipation and joy…

***

The inside of the hut was simple, a tidy set of futon bedding laid down, as well as a decorative flower vase containing a white lily, for atmosphere. A small side table was positioned in the corner, on which were a pair of glasses, and two jugs, one of water, one of sake. As I shut the door behind us, the soundproofing kicked in, and the loud booms of the fireworks faded to dull thuds, rather like a pulsing heartbeat.

I watched as Tsukiko took off her shoes, revealing her stocking-clad feet. I was surprised, but she merely smiled at me rather shyly, wiggling her toes. “It is a little chilly now that winter is upon us. Especially high in the mountains. Besides… I am told men find stockings… arousing.”

I nodded. “Not every guy, certainly, but… there’s definitely something about them that draws the eye. Of course, when you have long, slender legs like you do, Tsukiko, it’s an added treat. The only thing is… your hakama are a rather unusual pairing with stockings. Usually it’d be a skirt…”

“I do… wish… to wear more feminine clothes.” she agreed, as I removed my own shoes. I strolled over to the table and suggested we have a drink, but Tsukiko asked for water. “I should keep a clear head. This… shall be my precious ascent of womanhood.”

“You don’t need to be so nervous.” I promised, pouring us both a glass of cold, clear water, which smelled faintly of lemon. I guess Etsuko-san is paying attention to the details. Huh, it’s good.

We both took sips, as I sat down on the futon. Tsukiko didn’t move for a moment though, before, with her face red with embarrassment and also arousal, judging by her fast breaths, her hands went to the fastenings on the red and gold hakama pants she wore, and moments later, they slipped down, baring her legs in full, though they were indeed still clad in stockings, the white, transparent material only enhancing her feminine charms. But I can see…

In contrast to her stockings, the panties she was wearing were a bright red, with cute little white ribbons. The garter belt and straps were white too, and the combination was very…festive.

“You’re a few days early for Christmas. Although… it does fit your shrine maiden style.” I admired her, even as her hands went to the gold and white cloth that clothed her upper half. Soon, that was off, revealing her underwear. It wasn’t a bra, but some sort of crimson corset, with white laces, though the fabric was thin, silk-like and also faintly translucent, with a glittering sheen. Her nipples, which I had felt pushing against me earlier, were peeking out the cloth, and Tsukiko seemed to find that embarrassing, as she covered them with one arm, before she took a deep breath and sat down beside me, leaning her head against my shoulder.

“Somehow, this is more shameful than bathing together…” she muttered softly, gulping at her water. “Though… what do you think?” Her question was casual, but I knew enough about women now to sense her anxiety.

“I think…” I looked her up and down, slowly enough to make her blush. “…that you were what they meant when they coined the phrase ‘hourglass figure’.” I couldn’t help but chuckle at the mixture of shame and pride my words caused her. Women sure are complicated, yet also very simple. It was true though. Tsukiko’s waist was shockingly slim for a woman who had such rich hips and breasts, though I did wonder if wearing corset-style clothing under her hakama her whole life had shaped that. With a smile I reached out, and I could get my hands around a fair portion of her waist, though she shivered at my touch.

“I would like some warning before you do that…” she grumbled, though she made no effort to stop me. Instead, to hide her nerves, she asked me why I was still dressed.

“Fair enough.” I laughed, and soon I was in my underwear, her eyes glued to the growing bulge of my manhood that was tenting the black cloth. Gingerly, she reached out a hand, pausing for a long moment, before tugging gently on my shorts, and my dick popped free. Her eyes went wide, despite having seen it before (and indeed having fellated it… or rather, having had me rather roughly use her mouth in the throes of passion) and her finger started to shake, as she gently touched the end of my dick, softly stroking the glans.

“It is hot… and sticky…” Tsukiko marvelled, looking at the bead of precum that was now on her finger. “Are you aroused by me?”

“Even the Gods would be. But we’re not under their sight now.” I promised cheekily, pointing to the roof. “No gaps for moonlight here. Let me be clear, Tsukiko. You’re gorgeous, but… I don’t just like you because of that. I respect you too. But I’ll repeat, you are gorgeous, and my body reacts to that.” As if to prove my point, my dick was now iron-hard and standing tall. I wasn’t the sort of giant you’d see in porn films (not that I had any time or inclination to watch porn nowadays) but I’d always been above average for Japan, due to my nature as a half, and I’d grown further when I became a Faeduine, so my cock was certainly quite the sight for a shy, inexperienced woman such as Tsukiko.

She gulped, nervous and also aroused, and with a grin, I asked her if I could return the favour. She nodded, and I slowly reached down, tugging aside her panties, revealing her clean slit. It looked like she had shaved, and seeing my expression, she flushed. “It was not… something I ever needed to consider before. But Etsuko insisted I must be hygienic, and… that you would like it more.”

“I think either way has its charms. But… as a priestess, yeah, I think being shaved suits you.” I agreed. My other hand slowly unlaced her corset, and her breasts sprang free, their impressive size pleasing to my eyes. I tweaked one nipple playfully, and Tsukiko opened her mouth in a damp moan, before clamping shut her lips, flushing.

“It’s all right. The shame is half the fun.” I promised. “And this hut is soundproof for a reason. What happened to not needing to hold back your voice?”

At my teasing repetition of her earlier words, her flush deepened, but, having made up her mind, she slowly nodded. With her permission, I leaned in for a kiss, and we enjoyed a languid, relaxed embrace, my tongue licking hers, her teeth, her lips, probing her, even as my hands did their work. One toyed with her nipples and squeezed her fleshy breasts, while the other slowly, gently teased her slit, feather-light touches on the outside, enough to flush her skin and heat her up, but not enough to frighten her.

“Ah… puh… ahn…” Tsukiko had an extremely sensitive body, it seemed, as even this modest stimulation was making her pant, and her pussy was twitching, as if eager for greater contact, or the insertion of something. But it wasn’t time yet, so we went back to kissing, and I continued to tease her, until she bit my lip in frustration, hard enough to make me bleed, which was quite the feat, with my stats. Although I’m fairly sure Resilience is helping keep my body soft and warm right now, so she probably doesn’t need to be that strong to break my skin…

“I… oh… ahn… my body burns, but…” She wasn’t very proactive, merely submitting to my caresses, but she clearly felt she should be bringing me pleasure, so she gripped my cock clumsily, and I noticed that her nails were painted, a rather daring red, to match her panties. It’s probably to match her hakama, but thinking that is sexier…

“I should suck on it… ahn… oh yes… like before, no?”

“Actually, that comes later.” I licked away my blood, the wound having sealed instantly, and kissed her fiercely, enough to make her eyes spin. When we parted, her own tongue hanging out, missing mine, I slid my lower hand up, and used her spilling juices to polish her clit. Her smell was filling the room now, that of sweat and nectar and arousal, and she curled her legs around mine, clamping me tightly, the feel of her silken stockings on my bare skin tantalising.

“Yeah, I knew you couldn’t wait…” I grinned, earning a reproachful look from her, but then Tsukiko gave in with a long, aroused sigh, her hot breath tickling my cheek and ear.

“I confess, I cannot. My body burns, a flame is lit within me. Honestly… I thought your words to me, your promises, kind, but futile. I almost resented them… but in the end… ahn, wait… uh… I am being serious!”

“As am I!” My fingers parted her pussy and were soon sodden with her fluids. Looks like she’s very quick and easy to get wet. That’s good. Since I’m not going to get to take a look, I don’t want her to hurt too much…

“I seriously adore you. No, that’s not far enough. Matsumura Tsukiko, I love you. Perhaps I’m not the fairytale prince who came to sweep you off your feet, but… I’ll carry you through all the trials and tribulations this world can throw at you. And I’ll make sure you are never alone again. Though…” As my fingers toyed with her and she gushed sticky liquid like a broken faucet, her whole body trembling, her eyes stared into mine with absolute trust. “…there’s one thing I really don’t like…”

“There is?” Her ruby eyes flashed, perhaps a little offended, and with a smirk, I kissed her again. She responded, though a little hesitantly this time, and when we parted, a brief bridge of saliva lining our lips, just as a trail of nectars dripped from my finger to her pulsing pussy, I winked.

“Yeah. Your need to sacrifice yourself, be that for others, or be that for the Gods. That’s not going to fly for my wife.” I kissed her again, and she responded, my words moving her. My cock slid along her thigh, leaving a trail of precum on her white stockings, before it slid up to her entrance. Her body trembled, and she was clearly a little fearful, but also curious and excited.

“No, we carry it together, and make sure we get through it without needing to give up on any of our dreams.” I promised, before I whispered in her ear. “And my dream right now… is to make you mine. What’s yours?”

“I dream… of claiming the life… I thought I could never have!” she cried, understanding. “I dream… no, this is no dream, no vision of a future I… ahn… could never have! This moment, here… I am Tsukiko, a woman in love, like… uh… ah… any other!” Her hands clutched me tightly, as did her legs, her ample breasts pressed against me, her hair a sweaty tangle around us like a cloak. “I know it hurts… the… uh… first time. But… engrave it into me… I am… yours! Yours alone!”

My answer was another kiss, and as Tsukiko melted against me, eyes shining with tears of arousal and relief, my glans slowly started pushing open her pussy. I shivered, her lips stroking me, and then I was inside, spreading her open, the warm, damp inner cave of her pussy squeezing me tightly. Moments later I hit an obstruction, making me shiver, and Tsukiko grimaced.

“That… ahn… is my maidenhead, yes?” she asked, though she knew the answer. “I… do not … uh… need it. What I need… is you!” She took a deep breath, her limbs tightening. “Break through and… ahn… claim… meeeeeeeeeee… ooooooooh Tsukuyomi, forgive meeeeeeeee!”

As she asked, I thrust, and her hymen was pierced. It was stubborn, perhaps as she was older, but as red bloomed around my dick, thin trickles leaking out, matching the red of her panties, her body shuddered, and despite her words, crying out for Tsukuyomi, her eyes, her consciousness, her love, was all on me.

As my cock was buried to the hilt in her, I was shivering too, as she was warm and tight, like being wrapped in damp silk. I let out a pleased groan, which made Tsukiko cry, faint trickles of diamond-like moisture staining her cheeks. Unclenching her arms, she softly patted my head and back, as if soothing a child, while her face showed a pained elation.

“Do not be jealous. Perhaps I should… oh… uh…” As my cock shifted, she groaned, her body twitching, which showed how sensitive she was. “…have called your name? But… ahn, ahn… I am only… thinking of you… uh… now. Now and forever.” She glanced down at where we were joined. “I feel a pressure inside me. Like I am full. And… ahn… yes, there is some… ah… pain, but more… joy.” Her ruby eyes gleamed. “But this is but… the start, yes? Ahn… go! Make me understand physical… love!”

Needing no second invitation, I began to move. I couldn’t thrust too hard or fast, as her legs were still wrapping me, but that was probably for the best during her first time. Even so, as I slid in and out, nectar, blood and other fluids foamed where our bodies joined, and her pussy clamped down on me as if to suck out every last drop of my cum. Tsukiko’s stroking, patting hands became claws, clenching my hair, as her whole body trembled with every piston.

“This… why… ahn… did I deny myself? Oh… I know… why…” I cut off her words with a deep, hungry kiss, and Tsukiko was responding, her body jerking in time to my thrusts, our waists slapping together, my dick driving as deep into her as it could reach, rubbing along her inner walls, bringing us both rising pleasure.

Our lips parted, and as she swallowed my saliva, she finished her earlier thoughts, though she was moaning and gasping so much it was barely comprehensible.

“…ahn…uh… Destiny. Our… ahn…uh… oh… fuck…” She swore, something I had not heard from her before. “…I… uh… ahn… ahn… this day… no…uh… other… ahn, ahh… reason… what is… uh… this… feeling?”

I could feel it too. Her body was clearly close to orgasm, perhaps her rather higher stats than an ordinary person allowing her body to adapt to our lovemaking quickly, that or she just had a lewd constitution. I lowered my head, sucking and biting on her ample breasts, while my free hand slid under her body, grabbing and kneading her ass. She’s certainly got a lewd, yet beautiful body. Fuck you Tsukuyomi, I don’t care what the need is… having someone as noble, as self-sacrificing and as beautiful as Tsukiko dying is a travesty. If you can’t handle her, too bad, I’ll take over. I have taken over.

“Kiss… kiss… uh. Ahhhhn!” She pulled at my hair, raising my head, tongue out, and her body convulsed, a small orgasm rocking her, liquid scattering. We tangled tongues as I continued to thrust, and her body shook a second time, a greater, true orgasm shuddering through her from the tips of her toes to her head. Momentarily incoherent, she bit my tongue, and her pussy clamped wildly, dragging my own orgasm from me.

“Fuck… fuck… that was good…” I gasped, as a jet of hot liquid poured out, sloshing into Tsukiko’s spasming pussy. She seemed shocked, moaning in a slovenly fashion so at odds with her usual demure, immaculate appearance, and I continued to thrust even as my ardour waned, and a third wave of pleasure swept through her, and I could feel her insides contracting, as if her womb was greedily gulping at my cum.

“Warm… hot… wet… inside… ahn… me… I… is this… what it means… to be loved?”

Her stammered question amused me. Gently pulling my dick, which was still hard, my constitution as problematic and envious as ever, free from her drooling slit, which made her flinch from the pleasurable sensation of our skins touching, I kissed her forehead, cheeks, lips, neck and breasts until she calmed down. When she had relaxed, the shock of her first time fading, I grinned, kissing her tenderly one final time, before leaning my head on her ample chest like they were pillows.

“It’s a part of it. Love comes in many forms, but… physical love is pleasant. Isn’t it?”

“Yes.” Tsukiko touched her belly. “You know… virgin priestesses are not a Japanese conceit. Back in the distant past, shrine maidens used to offer their bodies in the hope of converting others to their faith.” Her words were slow and languid, the afterglow of sex leaving her slightly dazed. One of her long, elegant fingers swept down to her slit, sweeping up some leaking cum before it could stain her panties, though they and her stockings were a lost cause now, covered in our fluids. She brought the finger to her face, staring at it curiously, before licking it clean, her tongue twirling seductively. She pulled a complicated face at the taste. “Yes, I remember this from before. I do not find it particularly tasty, but… it is calming.”

At my wry look, she laughed softly. “I know. I am acing quite the fool. But I am… content. More than that… I feel loved. Yes… I now see why those shrine maidens performed the act. But I shall not… not with any but you.” she promised. “I love Tsukuyomi, for he is the God that chose me, shaped me… but that love is the love of a daughter for his father, I suppose. Whereas for you…” She entwined her fingers through mine, holding hands. “…it is the fierce love of someone I wish to spend my life with. Fortunately… I do not need to be a maiden to be the Diviner. For that… time has passed.” She giggled, and put some strength into her muscles, and a rather large rivulet of cum and love juices drooled from her pussy, staining her already sodden thighs. “Honestly…” She was serious now, and I listened attentively, even as my cock was throbbing, desperate to taste her again. It’s been a long time since I’ve been in a one-on-one with a woman. I worry I’ll not be satisfied until she’s totally exhausted. She’s a beginner, and doesn’t have the stamina Tan has, so… I’ll be careful…

“…I can see you are ready to go again.” She read my expression. “Soon. I… was in a fog for much of the experience. I enjoyed it, certainly, but… it felt a little distant. I know the sting of my defloration, the pleasure of the orgasms, the… sensation of your seed filling me to the brim, but… it all seems a hazy blur. This time… I shall savour every sensation.”

I kissed her again, and after we parted, she looked at me with curiosity. “What was that for?”

“Because I wanted to. And you looked adorable.” I leaked a chuckle. “Besides, what man can resist kissing such a woman as you when she’s in his arms?”

“I do not know. Nor shall I find out, for only your arms will shelter me.” she insisted, tightening her fingers that were clutching mine. “I…” Her eyes went vacant for a moment, and they shimmered with a faint hint of rainbow light, surely aether. “…feel it. The connection, no… two connections between us… they burn with your emotions.” She licked her lips in a sultry manner, quite unlike her usual calm, her eyes now intense. “Am I so appealing to you?”

“Always!” I grinned now, disentangling myself from her. I bent down, taking a look at her pussy, which embarrassed her, skin flushing, but she made no move to close her legs. I gently opened up her pussy, more mess trickling free, and let a little Ether Healing close up the damage, as she had bled rather a lot when I tore her hymen. Feeling the sensation of her flesh crawling inside her, she shivered, and let out a rather seductive moan.

“Trying to seduce me, are you? Well, you succeeded!” I teased, carefully wiping her clean. Outside, the dull thumps of fireworks could still faintly be heard, matching the beating of Tsukiko’s heart, which I could hear clearly. Taking a look at her body, I admired it. “Truly, you’re a work of art.”

“And how… do I compare with Goddess Taṇhā?” she asked then, casually, though I could see from the faint tremors of her lips and around her eyes it was an important matter for her.

“Tan… sure is Divine.” I responded. “But honestly, at the point you’ve reached, it’s like comparing two masterworks of art. Both are simply magnificent. It’s all a matter of taste.”

“And what is your taste?” Tsukiko pressed, and I placed a finger against her lips, surprising her.

“Please don’t ask that. Know that when I’m with you, you’ll always be my number one. Although I suppose when you are guiding Yukiko, for example, you’ll both be my number ones.”

“Cowardly.” Tsukiko said with a wry smile. “But also… wise. My parents were correct. It is hard to love such a popular man. But I have never been afraid of following through on a difficult task, no matter the consequences. And this one…” She fluttered her eyes coquettishly at me, the disconnect between that flirtatiousness and her usual stoic nature arousing. “…is not so onerous. Now, let me inspect you. I was too nervous to properly take you in.” She sat up, her long, stocking-clad legs drawing my gaze, which made her smile. Tracing my muscular chest with a finger, her other hand began stroking my cock, sliding along the shaft, touching the glans briefly, before dropping down and massaging my balls.

“So this is a man’s… your penis. Again, before, while I toyed with it, my mind was disarrayed from nerves. Now… I am already your woman. And I can think clearly. And it is… amusing…” She squeezed her long fingers, painted nails teasing my dick, and as I groaned, she stopped my mouth with her own, tongue slipping in eagerly. This time she was on the offensive, and I allowed her the upper hand for a while, her hands teasing, her tongue probing, but then I countered, my fingers sliding inside her, squelching as they began to rub her inner walls, as well as stroking her clit, which was fat and red, showing her arousal.

“Not… not fair…” she gasped, her mouth parting from mine. “…I am sensitive…”

“As am I.” I countered. “And your hands are warm. If you keep toying with my dick like that, I’ll cum. And that seems such a waste…”

“I suppose. Though I am… ahn…oh… hold on… ahn… moment… curious as to… uh… seeing the… ahn… instant… my… insides… itch… ahn…uh… have you already… uh… ruined me?”

“You’re not ruined.” I promised the flushed Tsukiko. “Far from it. You’re simply reclaiming your womanhood. And much as I enjoy this, and will enjoy it forever…” I grabbed my dick in one hand, making sure to show Tsukiko it, even as my other hand kept her fire burning by teasing her clit and entrance. “…I’ll enjoy the simple things too. Spending time together. Eating meals, maybe reading a book or watching TV together. Simple pleasures. And I suppose… though it’s not normal… battling together too, training… and all sorts of adventures.”

Tsukiko’s eyes were as bright as her flushed, sweaty skin. She inspected my cock as I pushed it to her entrance, and this time witnessed the moment of entry, my dick skimming her pushed aside panties and piercing her.

“Ngh… ahn… ah! I somehow… feel… uh… complete.” She gasped. “As if… ahn… a hole… in me… uh… is… ahn, oh… filled.” Her passionate moans aroused me, so I started to move, slowly and gently, giving her time to get accustomed to it. “I… suppose… ahn… there… I feel… shivery… when you… ahn, ahn… scrape me there!”

As she gasped out at my gentle thrusting, I focussed on the spot she indicated. Her pussy clamped down on me with each motion, and already she was soaked again, like a hot, sopping cave I was exploring.

“…suppose you… ahn… are filling… oh… me up! But… I want… ahn… uh… you to be happy too! But…” she reached out, cupping my cheeks, eyes staring into mine. “…you… are… ahn… oh… smiling, and… yet you… ah… seem hungry! Cute!”

“Guys find being called cute a bit… ah… embarrass… uh… ing…” I let out a couple of groans as Tsukiko’s body brought me pleasure, which made her smile change to one of triumph.

“I… see. I… my… ahn… time spent… within you… ahn… not in vain!” Tsukiko was a quick study, and her lower body was moving in figure-eights, and her pussy and ass were clamping down, trying to milk me dry. Unwilling to lose until she had been drowned in pleasure, I continued to adjust my angle of attack, and my hands stroked her hair, back, groped her ass and breasts, as well as played with her clit. Soon, her passion spiked, and she shuddered, back arching, droplets of sweat flung from her ivory skin like rain, but even as she let out a cry of passion, she didn’t tear her eyes from where we were joined, and with one last desperate surge of strength, her pussy tightened up alarmingly, and her orgasmic convulsions were like a velvet-gloved hand stroking me. I wasn’t quite ready to cum, my balls were hot and heavy, yes, but I still wasn’t at my peak, but on seeing how hard Tsukiko had worked in her passionate inexperience, I thrust deeply into her spasming body once, twice, thrice, and used a trickle of aether to squeeze my dick subtly, and with a loud cry, I ejaculated another hot stream of cum deep inside her. This time it gushed free, as she was already filled from my first load, and her eyes took it all in, even as she melted in my arms.

This… this is why I fight. To protect those within my arms, and… to ensure their happiness… with that thought, I kissed her, even as her body accepted my seed eagerly, as if to make up for years of lonely solitude…

***

“It is quite fascinating.” Tsukiko admired my somewhat limp cock as it swung freely. After we had cuddled together for a while until Tsukiko calmed down, I rose to get her more water. She gratefully gulped it down, and immediately more sweat beaded on her body. With a smile, I brought out a cloth and dampened it with the fruity water and began wiping her. First, her face, then her breasts, her back, her belly…

“What are you doing?” she asked, curious. “We shall take a bath shortly.”

“Maybe so, but… I just wanted to pamper you.” I grinned, unclasping the white (or rather once-white, as now they were rather soiled) garter belts and slowly easing down her stockings lovingly. I then wiped her legs and feet, even getting in-between the toes, before I pulled off her panties and the garter belt, leaving her naked.

“You… ahn… just wish… to feel my… private… ahn… areas. Though… to you they are… to be enjoyed, I… uh… suppose.”

“I do enjoy your body. But a relationship needs more than that. It needs love and trust. There, all clean. Though…” I grinned. “I think we might dirty you again before we’re done.”

“Rascal.” She breathed, face flushed. “As for you…” She poked my dick idly as I lay down beside her on the disastrously soaked futon. “…it seems you wish to make me carry your child. You simply flooded me.” Her eyes were earnest. “A relationship needs love and trust, you say?” As I nodded, she continued to gently stroke my dick, expression pensive. “I trust you. Enough to bear a child. I am not a fighter. You have little fear of me dying… dying again… I should say…” Her laugh was a little bitter. “…and losing a child of ours. I have not taken… medicine. However… I worry. My own parents… they were not suited to have a child, I think. I do not blame them for my life, but…”

“But you don’t want to repeat their mistakes?” I asked, and she nodded slowly.

“Yes. Precisely. You know me well. It is shocking, really. Our acquaintance has been brief. Yet… so very meaningful.”

“Don’t rush things.” I suggested, stroking her long flowing hair as if soothing a child. “I’m not going to tell you to take contraceptives. I think it’s more sensible, as… honestly, I’m not going to be the best father right now. I have no time. I worry about Asha in that regard, though it seems that the fathers of Dryads aren’t normally that involved in parenting… I’ll be different though.” I insisted. “But… if you are seeking a child to be close to me, or… simply to fill a hole in your heart, I think that’s a mistake.”

“One Eri nearly made.” Tsukiko agreed. “I… am merely repeating her folly. But…” Her smile changed and was now rather teasing. “I have the medicine. But… just like Eri, I felt… the need to leave it to fate this one night. I wish for an event that I cannot predict the outcome of. If I am pregnant, I hope you will be overjoyed, and praise me. If not… then I shall use the medicine, until the time is right.”

“Foolish woman.” I kissed her head. “Mom’s wrong. You’re definitely not the motherly sort. You have a motherly figure…” I groped her breasts, teasing her, then patted her hips. “…and I’m sure you’d birth a child just fine…” As she shivered under my lewd touch I could see her heating up again. Good, it’s better than moping. “…but it seems you’re actually just like most of the others. You need reassurance. Don’t worry. I’ll always be here to give it!”

“How… insolent.” Tsukiko put on a haughty expression, though it quickly cracked, her smile brilliant. “Your kindness makes my heart race. Though you already know it, surely…” She grasped my hand, placing it back on her left breast. “Considering how much you have fondled and groped me.”

I could indeed feel her heart beating, a soft, steady pulse.

“I am alive. It is a miracle in itself. And this life…” Tsukiko whispered, suddenly serious. “…I want to dedicate to you. But I know…” Now she was sealing my lips with a finger. “…to make you happy, I must be happy. And I am. How can I not be? I know we will face endless peril, but… I believe now we shall overcome it. I am dead and yet… feel my heartbeat. Feel… the warmth of my insides.” Her skin was scarlet with shame and arousal. “I am a woman, and I am free. My relationship with my parents is… different now. I have a wider family, and many friends, not just Yukiko. I feel… liberated. It is why if I bear your child now, I will have no regrets. And if I don’t…” She kissed my lips. “…one day I shall. You… carry us all in your arms. It is both enviable, and a great burden. Lesser men would shatter. But perhaps… we are the twilight you carry on your back. I know not. But what I do know is…”

I listened carefully, and she suddenly broke into a wicked, aroused smile. “You say I am not motherly, that I cannot pamper you? I shall show you how wrong you are…” With that, she leaned over and grabbed my cock firmly, one hand around the shaft, the other gently caressing the glans. “…let motherly, older Tsukiko show you tender love and care. Let me show this…”

With a smile, she reached out for the damp cloth I had discarded, and wiped off the traces of blood, cum and her nectar, leaving me shivering under her gentle, almost reverent touch. “…a little worship. For… I am rather old-fashioned still. To my mind, a wife should certainly take care of all her husband’s worldly needs…”

She sucked on my glans, and I quickly hardened again, filling her mouth. Her tongue started lapping at me clumsily, and her words were muffled, her breath as warm as the inside of her mouth. “…just as you make great efforts to soothe our worries… but I know you desire this. So I shall prove to you… I am a woman who does not merely need to be doted on.” She winked, quickly picking up the spots that were most sensitive, as her tongue tickled the underside of my shaft. “After all, I am your elder. So allow me to act in a manner befitting that.” She caught me with her teeth as she talked, and I winced. Seeing that, she pursed her lips.

“My apologies. I am still… inexperienced. Last time… you did the work. But… I am eager to learn!” Her words were sloppy, and as saliva spilled out of her mouth and down her chin, I couldn’t help but laugh.

I’ll be sure to return the favour. “Don’t worry, it’s not too hard. But to start with, please don’t bite or catch me with your teeth unless you really know what you are doing…”